Image sensor and method of stabilizing a black level in an image sensor

Abstract

An image sensor includes a substrate, an anti-reflection board and a light shielding film. The substrate includes first pixels to receive a light, and second pixels to provide a black level compensation. The first pixels are formed in an active region and the second pixels are formed in a first region spaced apart from the active region in a row direction. The anti-reflection board is formed in a second region above the substrate, and the second region is between the active region and the first region. The light shielding film is formed above the anti-reflection board, and the light shielding film covers an optical black region including the first and second regions. Therefore, the image sensor may be used in a CCD type image sensor and a CMOS type image sensor to provide a stabilized black level, thereby improving a quality of a displayed image.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2007-85638, filed on Aug. 24, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present general inventive concept relates to an image sensor, and more particularly, to an image sensor to stabilize a black level.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]An image sensor converts photo images into electric signals, and the image sensor is widely used in digital cameras, game devices, vision systems, and the like.[0006]The image sensor may be classified as a charge coupled device (CCD) type and a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) type. The CCD type image sensor generally has lower noise levels and better image quality than the CMOS type image sensor, but the CCD type image sensor has disadvantage...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present general inventive concept provides an image sensor capable of stabilizing a black level.

[0013]The present general inventive concept provides a method of stabilizing a black level in an image sensor.

[0029]A roughness of the lower surface of the substrate may be increased before forming the anti-reflection coating film.

[0039]A roughness of the lower surface of the substrate may be increased before forming the anti-reflection coating film on the lower surface of the substrate.

Problems solved by technology

The CCD type image sensor generally has lower noise levels and better image quality than the CMOS type image sensor, but the CCD type image sensor has disadvantages in power consumption.

Also one or more black crosswise lines may be caused in a displayed image and thus a quality of the displayed image may be degraded.

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